Apparatus and method for cutting and forming objects

ABSTRACT

A die assembly for cutting and forming the ends of wire stock comprising a pair of panel slides movable in opposite directions and each operating a diagonally guided cutting and forming tool which simultaneously move toward and away from each other on opposite sides of the work. Also disclosed is a method of providing a four-sided pyramidal point on rectangular wire stock.

United States Patent Motzer 1 1 Apr. 24, 1973 154 1 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR 423,017 3/1890 Yoch ..10 31 CUTTING AND FORMING OBJECTS 3,425,260 2/1969 Anderson ..72/452 1,062,394 5/1913 Gartner ..l0/3l [75] Inventor: Alfred E. Motzer, Menden, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Robson and Motzer, Wallingford, Primary EXaminerCharl6S Lanham C Assistant Examiner-11. M. Rogers Filed: Feb- 1971 Att0rney-Del1o & Montgomery [21] Appl. No.: 117,942 [57] ABSTRACT A die assembly for cutting and forming the ends of [52] US. Cl. ..72/325, [0/31, 72/407, wire stock comprising a pair of panel slides movable in 72/416 opposite directions and each operating a diagonally [51] Int. Cl ..B21d 31/02, B2ld 7/06 guided cutting and forming tool which simultaneously [58] Field of Search ..72/325, 445, 452, move toward and away from each other on opposite 72/407, 324, 338, 416; 83/51, 638, 623, 679; sides of the work. Also disclosed is a method of 59/75, 77; 10/9, 10 R, 4, 31, 35, 53, 59, 61 providing a four-sided pyramidal point on rectangular wire stock. [56] References Cited 8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,744,426 5/1956 Lyon ..72/445 X ZLAQ PATENTEDAPR 24 1915 SHEET 2 BF 2 O A m .E a A v w w 1 H w m APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CUTTING AND FORMING OBJECTS This invention relates to dies and more particularly relates to dies of the type adapted to cut a length of stock from a strip of material.

The present invention provides a new and improved cutting and forming die arranged to sever a length of rectangular stock and place a pyramidal point thereon.

In the electrical industry, many so-called wire wrap connections are utilized. These connections are made by machines having a finger-like member which extends over a terminal and guides wrapping of a connecting wire about the terminal. The wire is wrapped tightly about the terminal such that it cuts into the corners of the terminal to make a firm connection thereto. The locating finger, which has a longitudinally hollow portion moves over and receives the terminal therein while the wrapping connection is made. The terminals must be straight or the locating finger may strike the end thereof and deform the terminal.

Where a multiplicity of terminals are carried in an insulating block, the bending of one terminal may cause the loss of the whole connector, or require removal thereof from a processing line for straightening. In an attempt to overcome this problem, attempts have been made to define a pyramidal point on the end of the terminal so that if the locating finger is not axially aligned with the terminal the finger will initially strike the pyramidal end and bend the terminal so that the terminal will bend to enter the finger. However, attempts thus far to provide a pyramidal point on a longitudinally extending terminal have not been known to be successful. The presently used terminals are made with some degree of chamfer on the ends thereof to attempt to alleviate this problem, but still have a flat thereon which may be engaged by a finger of the wire wrap machine.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a new and improved cut-off and forming die, and method of cutting and forming to provide length of rectangular material with essentially perfect pyramidal points.

Briefly stated, the invention in one form thereof comprises a fixture or housing having mating, cutting and forming tools therein which operate diagonally across the edges of rectangular stock to define a pyramidal point on the cut stock. The mating forming tools are so arranged that they make contact with the stock simultaneously to guard against uneven forming and are actuated to move equal distances on the diagonal of the stock.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved die and forming tool assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus and method of forming a pyramidal point on rectangular stock.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved actuating mechanism for cutting and forming tools.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, the invention both as to its operation and organization, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be appreciated by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. I is a front elevation of a die assembly embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the die of FIG. 1 partially cut away;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the die of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the front portion of the housing removed;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of cutting and forming tools utilized in the die assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the tools of FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a pair of tools as exemplified in FIGS. 5 or 6 arranged to operate on a workpiece;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a mechanism utilized in the die assembly; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views of a workpiece cut from a strip and formed.

Turning now to the drawings, a cut-off and forming die assembly 10 is provided in accordance with the invention. The die assembly 10 is adapted to be mounted to the bed of a press 11 or other base member and operated by an actuating member 12 which may be the ram of a press. The die 10 comprises a housing 13 having a front plate member 14 and back plate members 15a and 15b. Defined within plate member 14 are horizontally extending slots or ways 16 and 17. The slots or ways 16 and 17 receive therein slide members 18 and 19, respectively.

Also defined in front plate 14 are vertical passages 20 and 21 which act as guides for actuating members 22 and 23, respectively, more clearly shown in perspective view in FIG. 9. Slide 18 is formed in two parts 18a and 18b which are biased away from each other by a stifi spring 24 received in spring pockets or seats 24a and 24b defined in the adjacent ends of slide members 18a and 18b. In a similar manner slide 19 is formed in portions 19a and 19b with a relatively stiff spring 25 urging said members apart and being seated in pockets or wells 25b and 25a defined in the adjacent ends of members 19a and 19b. Actuating member 22 is constructed with portions defining inclined surfaces. 22a and 22b. The surface 22a acts on a mating inclined surface l8c of slide portion 18a. The surface 22b acts on the mating inclined surface at the end 19c of slide member 19b.

Actuating member 23 has a portion providing an inclined surface 230 which is parallel to surface 22a, and an inclined surface 23b which is parallel to surface 22b. Surface 23a acts on mating inclined surface 18d of slide member 18b and inclined surface 23b acts on mating inclined surface 19d of member 19a.

With this construction, when the ram 12 moves downwardly, actuating members 22 and 23 move therewith. Actuating member 23 through surface 23a will move slide 18 to the left as viewed in FIG. 4 and the simultaneous movement of member 22 will permit such movement of slide 18. Springs 24 and 25 are relatively stiff and are provided primarily for accuracy of dimension of the slide members 18 and 19 between the actuating members 22 and 23. At the same time, the downward movement of member 22 and the movement of surface 22b will produce movement of-slide 19 to the right as viewed in FIG. 4. The simultaneous downward movement of member 23 will permit the movement of slide 19 on surface 23b. As the ram 12 moves upwardly, members 22 and 23 are restored to an upper position by return springs 26 and 27 carried in spring seats 28 and 29, respectively, defined in upper back plate 15. Upward movement of members 22 and 23 is limited by retainers R, which may be mounted to either front plate 14 or upper back plate 150.

Defined in back plates 15 are ways or passages 30, 31, 32 and 33. These passages define slides for cutoff and forming tools 35 and 36 as more clearly shown in FIGS. and 6. Each of tools 35 and 36 have a body portion 37 and a flange or foot portion 38. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention two each of tools 35 and 36 are utilized. Each has an identical cutting and forming head 39 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The difference in tools 35 and 36 will be hereinafter explained. The feet 38 of tools 35 are received in slots 40 and 41 in slide portions 18b and 19b, respectively, while the body portions 37 are received in passages 30 and 31 in back plate members 15. The foot portions 38 of tools 36 are received in slots 42 and 43 defined in slide portions 18b and 19b, respectively.

With this construction it will be seen that when slide 18 moves to the left the edges defining slots 40 and 42 will move the upper tools 35 and 36 along their respective passages or guide ways 30 and 32. Similarly, when slide 19 moves to the right as viewed in FlG. 4, the edges defining slots 41 and 43 will urge lower tools 35 and 36 along their slots or guide ways 31 or 33.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, rectangular wire stock indicated at W1 and W2 is fed 'into apertures through front plate 14. The strips of stock W1 and W2 are cut and formed with a pyramidal end as hereinafter described and inserted into a workpiece carrier C movable on a surface S to various work stations. Alternatively, these severed pieces may be dropped into a pile for later processing, forming or whatever operation is desired thereon. As, for example, they may be transferred to a wire forming machine. The particular form of the invention shown operates on two strips of work W1 and W2 at a time. It will be apparent that if desired, only one strip may be operated upon at a time.

FIG. 3 illustrates various severed workpieces Pl P5 advancing down a transfer line in carriers (not shown). The particular die shown is designed to insert two of the workpieces P in one carrier C, in which case the carrier would receive a workpiece from the two forming stations.

Where two pieces are severed in the same horizontal plane, which is also the plane of movement, the tool 35 will be relieved as shown at 43 as to cut the workpiece Pl a slight bit shorter than is cut from the strip W2 to provide clearance past the severed pieces P4. Additionally, an opening 45 may be defined through housing 13 to permit a slide to contact the severed ends of the workpieces Pl P5 and insure that they are fully inserted into a carrier C.

As the tools 35 or 36 are driven along their guides, as shown more clearly in FIG. 8, the cutting and forming heads 39 thereof will act on a piece of rectangular stock W so as to cut on a diagonal across the rectangular piece. The cutting edges 47 and 48 are shown in perspective in FIGS. 5 and 6 and a plan view thereof is shown'in FIG. 7. The cavities 50 between the cutting edges 47 and 48 each define one-half of a four-sided pyramidal point. Further defined on heads 39 is a clearance passage 49 which may be angled outwardly where the severed workpiece passes into the work holder C, or other collector.

FIGS. 10 and 11 exemplify the four-sided pyramidal tip of the workpiece and illustrate the end of the strip which is formed and shows the manner in which the metal is upset by the cutting and forming dies.

The heads 39 of the dies or tools have flats 52 and 53 which come together in contact as one length of material is cut so that the pyramidal tip 51 is formed with four congruent faces. The upset or deformed end may later be severed from the workpiece during a forming operation. The channels 54 and 55 defined in the faces of the heads 39 serve no utilitarian purposes but are merely continuations of the machining cuts to define the cutting edges 47 and 48.

Considering the mechanism of FIGS. 1 4, the slides 18 and 19 are arranged such that they travel equal distances in opposite directions during each downstroke of the actuating member or members 22 and 23 and forming tools 35 and 36 are so dimensioned that they will have equal travel and will bottom or, otherwise stated, have their surfaces 52 and 53 contact along a diagonal of the work. The slides 18 and 19 are identically formed and positioned equidistant the center line of the work. The dimensioning of the slides 18 and 19 together with the inclined surfaces 22a, 22b, 23a and 230 is such that as the slide is driven in one direction by one of members 22 or 23 the other slide will permit equal movement.

The slides and actuating members are so constructed and arranged that the two slides move the same distance in opposite directions upon each stroke of the press.

The heads 29 not only cut the work strip, but also perform a swaging operation to accurately define the pyramidal point. The walls of the cavities defined between the edges 47 and 48 act as a die to provide four symmetrical triangular faces which define the pyramidal end.

With the construction described, the cutting and forming tools will have simultaneous and equal movement toward and away from each other. The flats 52 and 53 residing in the same plane as the cutting edges 47 and 48 bottom on each other and in a plane across a diagonal of the workpiece to insure each of the tools performs an equal cutting and forming function, and further prevent damage to cutting edges 47 and 48.

The overall construction of the apparatus insures equal movement of the working parts. For example, the slide 18 moves under the influence of one actuating member, a distance permitted by the other actuating member. Should any binding of the parts occur, the stiff springs 24 and 25 will yield so that there will be no injury to the slides or actuating members. If desired, the actuating members 22 and 23 may be integrally connected. Dependent on the size of the die assembly, any number of workpieces may be acted upon simultaneously.

From the foregoing it may be seen that the objects of the invention set forth as well as those made apparent are efficiently attained. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for purposes of disclosure other embodiments of the invention as well as modifications to the disclosed embodiment which do not depart from the scope of the invention may occur to others skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments and modifications of the invention which do not depart from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A cutting and forming assembly comprising a housing member defining a passage therethrough for a strip of rectangular stock, first and second slides in said housing movable in parallel spaced apart paths in opposite directions, an actuating member movable in a second path in said housing and arranged to produce movement of said slides in opposite directions, first and second tool members guidably mounted in said housing for movement toward and away from each other on opposite sides of the passage in a path coinciding with the cross-sectional diagonal of the stock and along a path disposed at an angle with respect to the direction of movement of said slides, said tool members having V- shaped cutting edges and a cavity therebetween defined by two triangular surfaces, and means coupling each of said tool members to one of said slides so that movement of said slides produces movement of said tool members toward and away from the passage whereby when said tools engage the stock they cut therethrough and form a four-sided pyramidal point thereon.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said actuating member is formed in two spaced apart parts and operates said slides at spaced apart points.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said actuating member parts have upper parallel inclined surfaces arranged to move one of said slides, and lower parallel inclined surfaces arranged to move the other of said slides.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said slides have grooves defined therein inclined to the direction of movement of said slides, a guide defined in said housing member for said tool members, said tool members having portions received in said slide grooves whereby said tools are moved in said housing groove upon movement of said slides.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said slides are formed in two parts with a stiff spring therebetween.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein each of said tool members has a projection received in one of said slide grooves.

7. Apparatus for cutting lengths of rectangular wire stock and defining pyramidal points on an end thereof, comprising a guide for the stock, first and second tool members guidably mounted on either side of the stock guide along a line through a diagonal of the cross-section of stock in said guide, each of said tools having V- shaped cutting edges and a cavity therebetween defined by two triangular surfaces, and means for simultaneously moving said tool members towards the path of stock through the stock guide so that the apex of the V-shaped cutting edges simultaneously engage opposite edges of the stock and cut a length from said stock and form a four-sided pyramidal point on thereon defined by the triangular surfaces of said tools.

8. A method of defining a pyramidal point of a workpiece of rectangular cross-section comprising the steps of providing a pair of tool members having cutting edges defining a V-shape and a cavity defining two triangular surfaces t herebetween, positionng said tool members on positioning opposite sides 0 the workpiece along the diagonal of the rectangular cross-section of the work, simultaneously moving said tool members toward each other with the work therebetween until said edges meet to cut the work and form the cut end in the shape of a four-sided pyramid defined by the four triangular surfaces of the two tool members. 

1. A cutting and forming assembly comprising a housing member defining a passage therethrough for a strip of rectangular stock, first and second slides in said housing movable in parallel spaced apart paths in opposite directions, an actuating member movable in a second path in said housing and arranged to produce movement of said slides in opposite directions, first and second tool members guidably mounted in said housing for movement toward and away from each other on opposite sides of the passage in a path coinciding with the cross-sectional diagonal of the stock and along a path disposed at an angle with respect to the direction of movement of said slides, said tool members having Vshaped cutting edges and a cavity therebetween defined by two triangular surfaces, and means coupling each of said tool members to one of said slides so that movement of said slides produces movement of said tool members toward and away from the passage whereby when said tools engage the stock they cut therethrough and form a four-sided pyramidal point thereon.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said actuating member is formed in two spaced apart parts and operates said slides at spaced apart points.
 3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said actuating member parts have upper parallel inclined surfaces arranged to move one of said slides, and lower parallel inclined surfaces arranged to move the other of said slides.
 4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said slides have grooves defined therein inclined to the direction of movement of said slides, a guide defined in said housing member for said tool members, said tool members having portions received in said slide grooves whereby said tools are moved in said housing groove upon movement of said slides.
 5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said slides are formed in two parts with a stiff spring therebetween.
 6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein each of said tool members has a projection received in one of said slide grooves.
 7. Apparatus for cutting lengths of rectangular wire stock and defining pyramidal points on an end thereof, comprising a guide for the stock, first and second tool members guidably mounted on either side of the stock guide along a line through a diagonal of the cross-section of stock in said guide, each of said tools having V-shaped cutting edges and a cavity therebetween defined by two triangular surfaces, and means for simultaneously moving said tool members towards the path of stock through the stock guide so that the apex of the V-shaped cutting edges simultaneously engage opposite edges of the stock and cut a length from said stock and form a four-sided pyramidal point on thereon defined by the triangular surfaces of said tools.
 8. A method of defining a pyramidal point of a workpiece of rectangular cross-section comprising the steps of providing a pair of tool members having cutting edges defining a V-shape and a cavity defining two triangular surfaces therebetween, positionng said tool members on positioning opposite sides of the workpiece along the diagonal of the rectangular cross-section of the work, simultaneously moving said tool members toward each other with the work therebetween until said edges meet to cut the work and form the cut end in the shape of a four-sided pyramid defined by the four triangular surfaces of the two tool members. 